Year X777 — Day 7 of Spring
Location: Magnolia Town / Fairy Tail Guildhall
Age: Ren (12) | Erza (12)
---
Morning began with smoke.
Ren noticed it first—not alarmingly thick, not dangerous, just… wrong for a peaceful spring day.
He stood on the porch of the lakeside house, cup of tea warming his palms, eyes narrowed toward Magnolia Town in the distance.
"…That's the guild's direction," he murmured.
Behind him, Erza was tightening the straps on her gauntlets, already half-dressed for the day. "…Explosions?"
"…More like… chaos," Ren replied after a breath. "Unfamiliar chaos."
Erza paused.
"…That's specific."
Ren smiled faintly. "…It usually is."
They didn't rush.
That alone said how much had changed.
---
Fairy Tail was louder than usual.
Which, considering Fairy Tail, was impressive.
By the time Ren and Erza arrived, the guildhall doors were already off their hinges—again—leaning at a precarious angle as guild members shouted over one another.
"…HE ATE THE FIRE—"
"…WHO EATS FIRE?!"
"…GET HIM OUT—NO WAIT—DON'T—"
Ren stepped aside just in time as a blur of pink hair shot past the doorway and slammed into a table.
The table exploded.
Silence followed.
Then—
"HAHAHA! THAT WAS AWESOME!"
Ren blinked.
Erza froze.
The boy sprang back to his feet, flames flickering faintly around his fists, grin wide and unapologetic. He looked… feral. Not wild in a dangerous way—wild like a storm that hadn't learned where it was supposed to rain.
"…Who," Erza said slowly, "…is that."
Ren tilted his head, Great Sage already working.
> [Analysis complete.
Subject: Natsu Dragneel
Age: 12
Magic: Fire Dragon Slayer
Threat level: Inconsistent but extreme
Notable trait: Emotional-driven combat scaling.]
Ren exhaled.
"…That explains the smoke."
The boy—Natsu—sniffed the air, then turned.
His eyes locked onto Ren.
Then Erza.
"…Whoa," Natsu said. "You two feel strong."
The guild erupted again.
"Makarov!"
"CONTROL HIM!"
"WHY IS HE STILL STANDING?!"
Makarov was standing on the bar, arms crossed, expression torn between irritation and amusement.
"…Settle down!" the Master roared. "He's joining the guild!"
That earned a stunned pause.
"…Joining?" someone echoed.
Natsu grinned wider. "Yup! I'm Natsu! Gonna be the strongest mage in Fairy Tail!"
Erza crossed her arms. "…You broke the door."
"…It was in my way."
"…You didn't apologize."
"…It exploded."
She stared.
"…I don't like him."
Ren coughed lightly. "…He's honest."
"…That's not a compliment."
---
The formalities were… minimal.
Makarov stamped the guild mark onto Natsu's arm, ignoring the scorch marks already there.
"…Welcome to Fairy Tail," the Master said. "Try not to burn it down."
"No promises!"
Ren watched quietly.
> Fire Dragon Slayer. So this is how the storm begins.
Natsu's attention drifted back to Ren almost immediately.
"…Hey," he said, walking up close—too close. "You're strong."
Ren met his gaze calmly. "…You too."
Natsu squinted. "…Wanna fight?"
Erza stepped forward instantly. "…No."
"…Aw, c'mon!"
Ren placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
"…Not today," he said gently.
Natsu stared at him for a long second.
Then—
"…Huh," he said. "You're weird."
Ren smiled. "…I hear that a lot."
For some reason, Natsu laughed.
---
The guild slowly returned to its rhythm.
Drinks flowed. Arguments restarted. Someone challenged Natsu to an arm-wrestling match. The table cracked. Makarov sighed.
Ren sat near the window, observing.
> This is a fixed point, he realized. No matter what I change… this moment still arrives.
Erza sat beside him, arms folded. "…He's reckless."
"…Yes."
"…Loud."
"…Very."
"…And he doesn't know fear."
Ren considered that. "…He does. He just doesn't listen to it."
She glanced at him. "…You sound like you approve."
"…I think," Ren said slowly, "…the guild needs someone like that."
Natsu suddenly leaned over the back of their bench.
"…Hey!"
Both of them turned.
"…You guys are strong, right?" he asked, eyes shining. "Let's team up someday!"
Erza raised an eyebrow. "…You just met us."
"…So?"
Ren chuckled softly.
"…Maybe," he said.
Natsu grinned. "Sweet!"
He dashed off again, already arguing with someone twice his size.
Erza watched him go.
"…He's going to change things."
Ren nodded.
> He already has.
---
That evening, Ren and Erza walked back toward the lake, the sky painted gold and violet.
"…Do you remember when we first joined?" Erza asked.
"…You broke three chairs," Ren replied.
"…They were weak."
"…They were furniture."
She smiled faintly. "…We were quieter."
"…We still are," he said. "…Compared to him."
They stopped at the water's edge.
"…Ren," she said, voice thoughtful, "…do you think fate bends… or waits?"
He looked at the reflection of the sky rippling across the lake.
> I've broken chains. But some roads rebuild themselves.
"…I think," he said, "…fate waits for the people strong enough to walk it differently."
She nodded.
"…Then let's make sure he survives long enough to choose."
Ren smiled.
"…Agreed."
Far away, Magnolia echoed with laughter, shouting, and the sound of something else breaking.
A new flame had joined Fairy Tail.
And the world—
The world had started turning a little faster.
---
End of Chapter 36 🔥🌊